Textiles and Trade

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

A southwestern Missouri woman pleaded guilty in federal court last Wednesday to smuggling counterfeit Louis Vuitton material into the United States so that she could make and sell counterfeit merchandise on her website.

This guilty plea resulted from an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the IRS Criminal Investigation division.

Tonya Virtue, 33, of Mountain Grove, Missouri, waived her right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to one count of smuggling goods into the United States.

Virtue admitted that she sold approximately $50,000 worth of counterfeit Louis Vuitton items through her online store, Soul Sisters, to customers throughout the United States. Virtue received shipments of fabric and material affixed with counterfeit Louis Vuitton trademarks and logos from an overseas Chinese manufacturer between Jan. 1 and Sept. 27, 2017. Virtue created counterfeit handbags, purses and other items from the counterfeit fabric, which she sold to consumers who believed they were purchasing items created by Louis Vuitton.

Under federal statutes, Virtue is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and IRS-Criminal Investigation..

A southwestern Missouri man pleaded guilty in federal court last Wednesday to a scheme to sell counterfeit automotive airbags and components online.

This guilty plea resulted from an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the IRS – Criminal Investigation division.

Aleksey Illyuk, 28, of Ozark, Missouri, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to one count of mail fraud and one count of smuggling goods into the United States.

Illyuk admitted he sold counterfeit automotive airbags and airbag components on his online eBay stores, CarPro 417 and CarPro Electronics. Illyuk received shipments from various Chinese manufacturers of airbags, airbag covers and other items that contained the trademarks of Honda, Toyota, Chevy, Ford and other companies. Each of these imported airbags contained trademarks and markings that made it appear the legitimate holder of the trademark had manufactured the airbags. Illyuk fraudulently marketed these items as airbags that had been manufactured by the legitimate trademark holder, when he knew that the parts were counterfeit and not manufactured by the legitimate trademark holder.

Illyuk sold approximately $120,000 worth of counterfeit items to consumers throughout the United States through his online stores from Jan. 1, 2015, to Aug. 17, 2017. The fact that the airbags and the airbag components parts were counterfeit and not manufactured by the legal holders of the displayed trademark or logo on the item was never truthfully disclosed to the consumers.

Under federal statutes, Illyuk is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by ICE HSI and IRS-Criminal Investigation.

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Recall Details

This recall involves Dream On Me spring and foam mattresses for cribs and toddler beds. The recalled mattresses were sold in a variety of colors and prints. The model number and date of manufacture are printed on a tag on the top center of the mattress.

Mattress

Color/Print

Model

Date of Manufacture Range

Évolur Sleep Ultra Crib and Toddler Bed Mattress

white

849

between January 1, 2016 and December 19, 2016

Évolur Sleep Deluxe Crib and Toddler Bed Mattress

white

850

between January 1, 2016 and December 19, 2016.

Sweet Dreams 6” 88 Coil Spring Crib and Toddler Bed Mattress in Blue

white with blue clouds

87

between January 1, 2016 and December 19, 2016

88 Coil Inner Spring Standard Crib & Toddler Mattress

white

88

between January 1, 2016 and December 19, 2016

Visco Pedic Innerspring Standard Mattress in Blue star

blue star

150V_1

between January 1, 2016 and December 19, 2016

Convoluted Orthopedic Inner Spring Standard Crib & Toddler Mattress

white print

150C

between January 1, 2016 and December 19, 2016

Firm Foam Crib and Toddler bed mattress

white print

6E6WL

between January 1, 2016 and December 19, 2016

5" Foam Crib & Toddler Bed Quilted Standard Mattress

quilted bear print

5B5

between January 1, 2016 and December 19, 2016.

5” Round Foam Crib Mattress

white

42R

between January 1, 2016 and December 19, 2016.

5" Thick Round Crib Mattress

white

40R1

between January 1, 2016 and December 19, 2016

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled mattresses and contact Dream On Me to receive a free mattress cover to bring the mattress into compliance with the federal flammability standard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported

Sold At: Amazon.com, Kohls.com, ToyRUs.com, Walmart.com and Wayfair.com from January 2016 through December 2016 for between $40 and $90.

Heart & Core LLC, Minnetonka, Minnesota, has been awarded a maximum $7,920,000 modification (P00004) exercising the first one-year option of a one-year base contract (SPE1C1-17-D-1018) with four one-year option periods for tan and brown moisture-wicking t-shirts. The modification brings the maximum dollar value of the contract to $11,381,418 from $3,461,418. This is a firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. Locations of performance are Minnesota and California, with a Dec. 15, 2018, performance completion date. Using military services are Army, Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2018 through 2019 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Description: This recall involves children’s 100 percent cotton knit, two-piece, long-sleeve top and pant pajama sets. They were sold in three different styles: Santa Claus print with a white button and black and gold belt screenprint; Elf screenprint with a white Peter Pan collar, three red buttons and a black and gold belt; and reindeer screenprint on the top with a Faire Isle pattern on the pant and a reindeer on the top. “Mad Engine” “RN 129993” and the size are on the neck label. The pajama sets were sold in children’s sizes XXS, XS, S, M, L and XL. Mad Engine claims these recalled pajama sets are counterfeit.

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled pajamas away from children and contact One Stop Shop for a full refund.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported

Sold At: Foreman Mills stores nationwide from September 2016 through November 2017 for about $6.

Friday, December 8, 2017

The United States Attorney’s Office in St. Louis announced, November 30, 2017, that Seiler Instrument & Manufacturing Company, Inc., a defense contractor, will pay the United States $1.5 million in forfeiture based on the company's use of optical materials imported from China in the weapons sights which the company manufactured under a series of contracts with the Department of Defense. The company admits that the parts were improperly certified as compliant with the Buy American Act.

ETC

ETC-text

eTC (eTextileCommunications.com) is dedicated to providing valuable, high-quality information that our readers, advertisers and sponsors find beneficial, reliable and unique in the new media realm. We seek to provide insight into issues affecting the global textile industry; to offer a forum for discussion and feedback; and to create a community network of industry professionals.